Current Federal Laws Preventing Upstate New York Summer Camps and Children's Orgs From Access to FBI Sex Offender Background Checks
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer launched a campaign to pass his bipartisan legislation that would close the gaping hole in the federal law that prevents summer camps and other not-for-profit organizations that work with children from gaining access to federal sex offender background checks on new employees and volunteers. Schumer explained that, under current law, many children 's summer camps, day cares, charity organizations and more only have access to New York State 's criminal database. Because this is the only resource most local groups have access to, they often lack records of criminal activity committed out of state. Because the FBI databases are widely considered the most accurate and complete criminal databases, Schumer said it is critical these summer camps and other organizations have access to these records when hiring employees.